“Child…
may the Holy Light be with you…”
The ancient, gentle voice gradually faded into the golden void.
Lucifer watched the enormous Naaru-like being slowly disappear until the surrounding light vanished with it, leaving his consciousness suspended in complete darkness.
A mechanical voice suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Holy Power System successfully bound.]
[Novice Gift Pack automatically opened.]
[Obtained: 10 cubic meters of System Space.]
[Obtained Skill: Holy Seal of Justice — Level 1.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Usable 3 times per day.
May be applied to the user’s body or weapons.
Extremely effective against evil entities.
Additional effects: double damage against evil and Strength +1 while active.]
[Obtained Skill: Holy Light — Level 1.
Duration: 12 seconds.
Usable 3 times per day.
Provides basic healing for physical injuries.]
[Novice Benefit activated: Host’s physical attributes have been converted into numerical data.]
Lucifer listened to the descriptions with growing excitement.
The names sounded familiar from his years of playing Paladin, even if the abilities themselves were clearly adapted to this new world.
More than anything, he wanted to wake up and see what Holy Light could do to the murderous doll that had just stabbed him through the chest.
As soon as the thought appeared, golden light flashed before his eyes and a translucent panel opened.
[Name: Lucifer]
[Class: Apprentice Paladin — Level 1]
[EXP: 0/100]
[Class advancement available at Level 10.]
[Strength: 7 — Determines melee power.]
[Agility: 6 — Improves movement speed and reaction time.]
[Stamina: 7 — Improves physical durability, endurance, resistance to fatigue, and recovery from nonfatal injuries.]
[Spirit: 15 — Improves resistance to illusions and mental attacks while strengthening Holy Light-based abilities.]
[Skills: Holy Seal of Justice Level 1, Holy Light Level 1]
Lucifer’s attention immediately settled on Spirit.
Fifteen.
It was more than twice several of his other attributes.
After thinking for a moment, he understood why.
Probably because I’ve lived two lives.
My soul has gone through a lot more than an ordinary person’s.
Before he could study the panel further, feeling gradually returned to his body.
Dust filled his nose again, and the hard storage-unit floor pressed against his back.
Then Edward screamed.
“Help!
What the hell is wrong with this doll?!”
Lucifer’s eyes snapped open.
He pushed himself off the floor and immediately activated his new skill.
Holy Seal of Justice.
Golden light flashed through his eyes as the darkness inside the storage unit became much easier to see.
[Holy Seal of Justice activated.]
[Strength +1.
Current Strength: 8.]
Lucifer turned toward the sound and saw Chucky chasing Edward between the boxes with a knife in one hand.
Golden warhammer-like patterns appeared across the backs of Lucifer’s hands as he clenched his fists.
Now that his memories had caught up with what he was seeing, there was no longer any doubt.
This wasn’t merely a collectible Good Guys doll.
It was Chucky.
Charles Lee Ray.
The serial killer whose soul had been transferred into the doll.
“Hey, Chucky!”
The doll turned.
Lucifer charged.
His fist slammed directly into Chucky’s face before the killer doll could react.
THUD!
Golden Holy Light exploded across the impact.
Chucky shrieked as his small body flew backward and smashed into the wall.
The side of his face was scorched where the Holy Seal had struck him, and faint black mist leaked from beneath the damaged plastic skin.
Lucifer didn’t give him time to recover.
He stepped forward and started punching.
Each blow released another burst of golden light, crushing the doll’s body against the wall while the evil energy inside it hissed and burned.
Chucky struggled at first, trying to curse and swing the knife, but Lucifer’s enhanced strength and the Holy Seal’s effectiveness against evil left him completely overwhelmed.
“Damn…
you…”
Another punch landed.
Chucky’s voice became weaker.
Lucifer drove one final Holy Light-covered fist into the doll’s head.
BOOM!
The plastic skull shattered.
Black spiritual energy burst from the remains, briefly forming a distorted shadow before golden flames consumed it completely.
Charles Lee Ray’s bound soul burned away together with the ruined doll, leaving nothing behind but scorched pieces and ash.
A System notification immediately appeared.
[C-rank Evil Spirit eliminated: Chucky / Charles Lee Ray.]
[Reward: 100 EXP.]
[Reward: 5 Holiness Points.]
[Level increased.]
[Stamina +1.]
[Current Class: Apprentice Paladin — Level 2.]
[Current EXP: 0/200.]
[Current Stamina: 8.]
Lucifer slowly lowered his fists and released a breath.
Behind him, Edward had collapsed against a stack of boxes and was staring with his mouth hanging open.
“My God…” Edward swallowed.
“Lucifer…
are you God?”
Lucifer glanced down at his slightly swollen knuckles and smiled.
“Something like that.”
He walked over and placed his palm against Edward’s forehead before activating Holy Light.
Warm golden radiance descended around his friend.
[Holy Light activated.]
The bruises and small cuts Edward had picked up while running from Chucky began healing beneath the soft glow.
Edward stared at the light surrounding his body, then looked up at Lucifer with an expression of complete religious awe.
“I saw it,” he whispered.
“I actually saw the light of God.”
Then he grabbed Lucifer’s leg.
Lucifer immediately frowned.
“Get off.”
“Lucifer, you’re God’s incarnation on Earth!”
Lucifer tried pulling his leg free.
“I’m your father.”
Edward looked up.
His terrified expression vanished.
“Great.
Then I’m the Son of God.”
Lucifer stared at him.
“Go to hell.”
It took several more minutes before Lucifer finally convinced Edward that he wasn’t God, an angel, or some newly arrived messiah.
He didn’t explain the Holy Power System and instead kept the truth to himself, allowing Edward to believe whatever vague supernatural explanation made the most sense.
Once Edward had calmed down, Lucifer forced the roll-up door open again.
Warm California sunlight poured back into the dark storage unit.
Lucifer stood in the light for a moment before remembering the System reward.
Five Holiness Points.
System.
Lucky Draw.
A new notification appeared.
[Current Holiness Points: 5.]
[Five draws available.]
[Tip: Every consecutive 10-draw grants one additional bonus reward.]
Lucifer paused.
Logically, saving until he had ten points was obviously better.
Unfortunately, curiosity won.
Draw.
A large golden roulette wheel appeared before him, covered with icons representing potions, equipment, skills, experience, and several rewards he couldn’t immediately identify.
One Holiness Point disappeared as the wheel spun before finally stopping on a green potion.
[Obtained: Junior Agility Potion.]
[Effect: Agility +1.
Cannot be used once Agility exceeds 15.]
Lucifer immediately removed the potion from System Space and drank it.
A light sensation spread through his body.
[Junior Agility Potion consumed.]
[Agility +1.]
[Current Agility: 7.]
Lucifer flexed his arms and took a few steps.
His movements felt slightly smoother and lighter than before.
That was enough encouragement.
Keep drawing.
The roulette spun four more times.
[Obtained: 10 Holy Silver Bullets.
Compatible with standard firearms and effective against evil entities.]
[Obtained: Junior High-Concentration Holy Water.
May be used for healing, exorcism, and purification.]
[Obtained Skill: Blessing of Might — Level 1.
Strength +3 for 10 minutes after activation.]
[Obtained: Oak Club — Ordinary Quality.
A simple wooden club.
Can also crack walnuts.]
Lucifer stared at the final description.
“Why does the System care about cracking walnuts?”
Before he could complain any further, Edward suddenly shouted from deeper inside the unit.
“Lucifer!”
Lucifer turned.
Edward was holding up a gold wristwatch with both hands, his earlier terror already replaced by excitement.
“We really hit the jackpot!”
Lucifer walked over and looked at the watch.
Edward grinned.
“It’s a Rolex.”
Neither of them noticed Robert standing near the open storage unit.
He had returned hoping to watch Lucifer discover that he’d wasted $250.
Instead, he saw the gold watch in Edward’s hands.
Robert’s expression changed.
His disappointment gradually turned into greed.
After hesitating for a moment, he forced a friendly smile onto his face and started walking toward them.